MacQuillinan Early Origins

The surname MacQuillinan was first found in County Antrim (Irish: Aontroim) located in the province of Ulster in present day Northern Ireland, where they were granted lands by Strongbow after the Anglo/ Norman invasion of Ireland in 1172. Specifically, "The MacQuillans were lords of the territory of the Routes, in co. Antrim, holding their chief residence in the fine old sea-girt castle of Dunluce." MacLysaght agrees "The MacQillans are of Norman- Welsh descent: they settled soon after the invasion in the territory called the Route (co. Antrim.)" [1]CITATION[CLOSE]MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)

MacQuillinan Spelling Variations

MacQuillinan Spelling Variations

Medieval scribes and church officials spelt names simply the way they sounded, which explains the various name spelling variations of the name MacQuillinan that were encountered when researching that surname. The many spelling variations included: McQuillan, McQuillen, McQuillian, McQuillin, McQuillon, McCailin, McAilin, MacQuillian, MacQuillon, MacCaillion, MacQuillin, MacQuillan, McKillan, McQuilland, McAiland, McAylin, McCaillion, McKillion, McKillin, McKillon, MacKillan, MacQuilland, MacAyland, MacAilan, Quillan and many more.

MacQuillinan Early History

MacQuillinan Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacQuillinan research. Another 277 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1315, 1500 and 1750 are included under the topic Early MacQuillinan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacQuillinan Early Notables (pre 1700)

MacQuillinan Early Notables (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early MacQuillinan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

A great number of Irish families left their homeland in the late 18th century and throughout the 19th century, migrating to such far away lands as Australia and North America. The early settlers left after much planning and deliberation. They were generally well off but they desired a tract of land that they could farm solely for themselves. The great mass of immigrants to arrive on North American shores in the 1840s differed greatly from their predecessors because many of them were utterly destitute, selling all they had to gain a passage on a ship or having their way paid by a philanthropic society. These Irish people were trying to escape the aftermath of the Great Potato Famine: poverty, starvation, disease, and, for many, ultimately death. Those that arrived on North American shores were not warmly welcomed by the established population, but they were vital to the rapid development of the industry, agriculture, and infrastructure of the infant nations of the United States and what would become Canada. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Irish settlers bearing the name MacQuillinan: Andrew, Charles, James, John, Patrick, William McQuillan arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860; Edward, George, Patrick, Phillip, Roger and Thomas McQuillen all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.

McDonnell, Frances. Emigrants from Ireland to America 1735-1743 A Transcription of the report of the Irish House of Commons into Enforced emigration to America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-1331-5).

The MacQuillinan Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The MacQuillinan Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.